Leaf venation functional traits and their ecological significance

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2013.00072

Abstract

Abstract:

Leaf venation is the distribution and arrangement pattern of a leaf vein system. Earlier studies of leaf venation mainly focused on its taxonomic significance. In recent years, studies of leaf venation functional traits and their significance in plant water relations have been popular topics of plant ecological research. In this paper, we introduced an index system of leaf venation functional traits (including vein density, vein diameter, distance between veins and loopiness of veins). We also reviewed three aspects of leaf venation functional trait studies: relations between leaf venation functional traits and leaf vein system functions (i.e., water-nutrient-photosynthetic product transport, mechanical support and herbivore defense), positive and negative correlations between leaf venation functional traits and other leaf functional traits (e.g., leaf mass per area, leaf lifespan, leaf photosynthetic rate, leaf size and stomatal density), as well as relations between leaf venation functional traits and environmental factors (e.g., precipitation, temperature and light). In addition, leaf venation functional traits can be employed in studies of palaeoclimate reconstructions, watershed and urban transportation planning, as well as global change studies. Since leaf venation functional traits are products of both environmental factors and genetic factors, future leaf venation functional trait studies at molecular-leaf-plant-ecosystem scales are needed, and analyses of plant water relations between leaf venation functional traits and traits of other plant tissues or organs (i.e., stomata, wood and root) also need to be improved. All of these studies show promise in providing new insights into predicting responses of plants and ecosystems to global changes.

Key words: biological networks, leaf functional traits, leaf vein system, plant water use, vein density

LI Le,ZENG Hui,GUO Da-Li. Leaf venation functional traits and their ecological significance[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2013, 37(7): 691-698.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2013.00072

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2013/V37/I7/691

Figures/Tables 4

Fig. 1 Relations among leaf venation functional traits and leaf venation-leaf vein system function-environmental factors.

Fig. 2 Four geometrical characteristics associated with leaf venation functional traits in a leaf vein system (Adapted from Blonder et al., 2010).

Table 1 An index system for leaf venation functional traits

叶脉系统的功能 Vein system function	叶脉网络功能性状 Leaf venation functional traits
物质运输 Matter transport	叶脉密度 Vein density (+) 叶脉直径 Vein diameter (+) 叶脉之间的距离 Distance between veins (-)
机械支撑 Mechanical support	叶脉直径 Vein diameter (+) 叶脉密度 Vein density (+)
虫害防御 Herbivore defense	叶脉闭合度 Loopiness of veins (+) 叶脉密度 Vein density (+)

Fig. 3 Different plants have different leaf venations (terminal vein density increases from left to right) (Adapted from Brodribb et al., 2010).

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